This documentary tells the thrilling story of the Spitfire. From prototype to commander of the skies during World War Two, this legendary aircraft possesses an iconic status which is much deserved. We explain who designed and built the Spitfire, revealing what it was like to fight and fly in this legend of the skies.We explain how the Spitfire achieved its reputation, looking at the machine s first prototype. The gull wing plane, with its fixed undercarriage, closely resembled the already existent Stuka plane. We examine the key decisions made by R. J. Mitchell when the design process was still in its infancy.

Dissatisfied with the uninspiring initial design, the ambitious engineer privately decided to develop a killer fighter . We also reveal that the fantastic fighter was almost christened Shrew or Shrike. We outline the problems encountered in its production; the contract to supply the RAF with Spitfires was almost cancelled just two months before the outbreak of World war Two.
This documentary is the most comprehensive examination of the Spitfire story ever undertaken. It features a revealing interview with Alex Henshaw, the pre-war record breaking flyer and chief pilot for Supermarine. Henshaw flew the first production Spitfire and went on to pilot more than 3,000 aircraft, overseeing a team of pilots who flew over 37,000 sorties. He recounts the story of the early days of ing the Spitfire, detailing his continuing role in the development of the aircraft throughout the War.